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Weather Forecast Office (Baltimore/Washington) Sterling, VA

Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center

Frost Advisory

Hydrograph

River at a Glance

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Inundation Mapping

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Printable Image About this graph Tabular Data (UTC) Tabular Data (EDT) Datum: Not Available Metadata

NOTE: Caution: This water level forecast does not fully account for the effects of wind driven storm surge. Forecast errors of two feet or more are possible during major surge events. Other sources of error may include rainfall forecast uncertainties and hydrologic/hydraulic model uncertainties. NOTE: Gauge reading affected by tides. NOTE: Forecasts for the Washington Channel at SW Waterfront (IN MLLW) are issued routinely year-round. Vertical Datum references a tidal datum (MLLW)...for more information see Tides and Currents .

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Downstream Gauge

Flood Categories (in feet) Major Flood Stage: 7 Moderate Flood Stage: 5.3 Flood Stage: 4.2 Action Stage: 3.7 Low Stage (in feet): -9999 Historic Crests (1) 11.05 ft on 10/17/1942 (2) 10.55 ft on 03/19/1936 (3) 10.26 ft on 09/19/2003 (4) 9.95 ft on 08/23/1933 (5) 8.68 ft on 06/24/1972 Show More Historic Crests (P): Preliminary values subject to further review. Recent Crests (1) 5.83 ft on 09/24/2023 (P) (2) 5.48 ft on 05/09/2022 (P) (3) 5.47 ft on 01/17/2022 (P) (4) 7.12 ft on 10/29/2021 (P) (5) 5.19 ft on 05/01/2020 (P) Show More Recent Crests (P): Preliminary values subject to further review. Low Water Records Currently none available. For more information on your flood risk go to www.floodsmart.gov. Show FEMA's National Flood Hazard Layers FEMA's National Flood Hazard Layers not showing? Why aren't the FEMA National Flood Hazard Layers showing on the ESRI Map? Possible reasons: There are no FEMA National Flood Hazard Layers for the location which you are viewing on ESRI Maps. The FEMA Web Mapping Service (WMS) is down. Note: Your zoom level may have changed. ESRI's zoom levels must be between 14 and 16 to show National Flood Hazard layers.

Zoom Level:14 Legend FEMA Layer Gauge Location Disclaimer Latitude/Longitude Disclaimer: The gauge location shown in the above map is the approximate location based on the latitude/longitude coordinates provided to the NWS by the gauge owner.

Flood Impacts & Photos

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15	Floodwaters approach the Pentagon East parking area, especially during a freshwater flood. Most of the Reagan National Airport runways are flooded. In a tidal flood, water covers portions of the economy parking at Reagan National Airport, and approaches nearby structures. Water approaches Arnold Avenue at Joint Base Anacostia Bolling. A tidal flood at this height could cause even more widespread flooding of the Base. Most of Fort McNair is flooded.
12	Widespread flooding is occurring. Only a few high spots remain dry in East Potomac Park, and around the tidal basin. Floodwaters on Fort McNair go all the way up 5th Avenue. Near the Navy Yard, floodwaters cover past M Street SE. Some runways and taxiways at Reagan National Airport are partially flooded.
11	Floodwaters reach both ends of the north-south runway at Reagan National Airport, and covers some taxiways. The George Washington Parkway is flooded in multiple locations between Arlington National Cemetery and the Airport. Floodwaters approach the back side of a business on the north side of Maine Avenue near I-395. Also, widespread flooding is occurring on the Anacostia, with water on the Navy Yard up to M Street SE.
10	Water approaches the southern end of the runways at Reagan National Airport. This is more likely to occur in a tidal flood at this level. Almost all of East Potomac Park is flooded, along with the western half of the Navy Yard. 5th Avenue SW is flooded up to C Street on Fort McNair. Floodwaters threaten the basement of the Jefferson Memorial.
9	Most of East Potomac Park is flooded, including some buildings. Water approaches the World War II Memorial on 17th Street NW. Moderate flooding is occurring on the Anacostia River with roads and buildings impacted. Water approaches the FDR Memorial. Substantial inundation of a portion of the Navy Yard begins, and water approaches taxiways at Reagan National Airport. Maine Avenue begins to flood near the 14th Street bridge.
8.4	Floodwaters cover Ohio Drive on the Potomac side at the railroad bridge.
7.5	Water approaches portions of the George Washington Memorial Parkway near the 14th Street bridge.
7	Water reaches the parking area of the East Potomac Golf Course. In a freshwater flood, water is overflowing the tidal basin at Independence and 17th, and on East Basin Drive near the Jefferson Memorial.
6.5	A significant portion of East Potomac Park is flooded, including parts of the Hains Point Loop Road. The road will be closed. The western end of the DC seafood market on the Southwest Waterfront is flooded. A portion of the Navy Yard begins to flood as minor inundation begins along the Anacostia River.
5.3	The unprotected area on the Southwest Waterfront at the DC seafood market begins to flood. Water approaches parts of the Hains Point Loop Road, but the road will likely be closed.
4.2	Lowland flooding is occurring along sporadic portions of the seawall adjacent to Ohio Drive and the Hains Point Loop Road.
3.7	Water begins to overflow the lowest spots along the seawall adjacent to Ohio Drive and the Hains Point Loop Road.

About This Location

Latitude: 38.873333° N, Longitude: 77.021111° W, Horizontal Datum: NAD83/WGS84 River Stage Reference Frame Gauge Height Flood Stage Uses NWS stage 0 ft 4.2 ft Interpreting hydrographs and NWS watch, warnings, and forecasts, and inundation maps Vertical Datum Elevation (gauge height = 0) Elevation (gauge height = flood stage) Elevation information source NAVD88 -1.40 2.8 Survey grade GPS equipment, FEMA flood plain maps, newer USGS topographic maps NGVD 29 -0.62 3.58 Older USGS topographic maps, NGVD29 benchmarks MSL -1.55 2.65 Older USGS topographic maps, MSL benchmarks Other Not Available 4.2 MLLW (Mean Lower Low Water)

Resources

Hydrologic Resources Text Products Past Precipitation Forecast Precipitation River Forecast Centers River Stage Summary Automated Flood Warning Systems Inundation Mapping Locations

Additional Resources Area Hydrographs NWS Precipitation and River Forecasting AHPS Iframes for Developers Mobile iNWS for emergency management Snow Information Ensemble River Forecasts Hourly Precipitation

Collaborative Agencies The National Weather Service prepares its forecasts and other services in collaboration with agencies like the US Geological Survey, US Bureau of Reclamation, US Army Corps of Engineers, Natural Resource Conservation Service, National Park Service, ALERT Users Group, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and many state and local emergency managers across the country. For details, please click here. NWS Information National Weather Service (Baltimore/Washington) Sterling Weather Forecast Office 43858 Weather Service Rd. Sterling, VA 20166 (571) 888-3500 Ask Questions/Webmaster Page last modified: 2-Nov-2020 7:30 PM Disclaimer Credits Glossary Privacy Policy About Us Career Opportunities